8 things you need to know about EU refrigeration legislation

Minimum energy performance standards for commercial refrigeration products are due to come into force next year. Here are 8 things you need to know about one of the most significant developments for the catering equipment market as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

1) The European Commission has been consulting with the commercial foodservice refrigeration industry over the last few years to create a set of minimum energy performance (MEP) standards by which refrigeration products sold in the EU are tested and labelled.

2) The EC has taken this step after identifying professional refrigeration equipment as a product category with a “high potential” for energy savings — as much as 60% in some cases — due to the high energy consumption and long operating times.

3) The test standards are borne out of the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) and the efficiency of refrigeration products will be ranked on a proposed A-G scale.

4) Products which do not meet the MEP standards will be precluded from sale in the EU.

5) The new legislation is scheduled to be introduced on 1 July 2016. That is when it will become mandatory for refrigeration manufacturers to display energy labels on their products.

6) Initial products covered by the legislation include professional refrigerated storage cabinets, such as upright cabinets and open-fronted merchandisers.

7) Products NOT covered by the regulation at this stage include condensing units, saladettes, blast chillers and walk-in coldrooms.

8) Product testing will be the responsibility of the manufacturer, but in the UK the National Measurements Office (NMO) will carry out spot checks to ensure ratings are accurate.